Shipping-crate.



M. J. DACY.

SHIPPING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED N0v.|.191s.

Pat/entedJuly 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L M'. 1. DACY. SHiPPlNG CRATE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, X916.

MMWWMJIMI 5 a 4/ 2,W A v we; a 4 M. 3

THC NORRIS )CfERS C0 PHOTO-MINDY, WASNINUI'OM, .0 C.

STATES PAT OFFICEG MICHAEL J. Inner, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIAjASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD T0 CLAUDE B. DAVIS AND ONE-THIRD ,TO JOHN T.PALMATARY, BOTH or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SHIPPING-CRATE. V

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJuly 2, 1918.

Application filed November 1, 1916. Serial No. 128,990.

a citizcnofthe United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as, will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to shipping boxes or crates,and particularly to folding boxes or crates for shipping The object of theinvention is to provid an improved form of is particularly adapted for shippingbread and similar perishable products, thereby meeting an increasing demand for a suitable hamper or other receptacle which may be collapsed and securely packed for return shipment to a point of distribution after the contents has been removed. In such a.

I crateit is necessary that the contents be properly protected in transit,and also that the receptacles in which the goods are shipped may be of such alight character that when the crate is folded it will provide only a compact unitary parcelwithout 'unue bulk or weight.

More particularly, in the provision ofmay be folded so as within-the lid as a is therein secured which are employed With the above others. as will hereinafter appear, my invention will now befully set forth and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings 1 In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box set up with the lid applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of the upper part of the box with the lid removed,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the box,

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through a corner fastening means,

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a view of the box in folded and packed position, and

the invention resides to be Wholly contained packing receptacle and to set the box up;

purposes. I

folding crate which a box or crate which by the same elements objects in view and such -Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View showing a corner-fastening, W

eferring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a base which may be a paneled or built up structure having the marginal cleats2. Hinged to the opposite ends of the base 1 are the end pieces 3 and 4,the end piece 3 being hinged directly' to the base or bottom 1 soas to swing inwardly thereupon and the end piece 4being'mounte he ght to permit the end' piece 4 tOffOld flat upon the end piece 3. The end pieces 3 and 4 are also adapted to swing into folded position between the longitudinal cleats 6 and 7, upon which are mounted the sides 8 and 9. The side 8 being adapted to fold upon the transverse cleat 5 which extends across the end of the box and is of sufficient flat uponthe inwardly folded end piece 4.

since theoleat 6 which supports it is equal to the thickness of the two end pieces when they are folded one upon the other. -The cleat 7 isequal in height to the thickness of the three elements 8, 4 and 8, so that the side 9 carried by the cleat 7 may be folded flat upon the upper face of the side 8. Thus. when the box is collapsed. the four vertical elements thereof rest one upon the" other with their outside dime'nsions located entirely Within'the limits 0f the outside dimensions of the base or bottom 1- The sides 8 and 9 andthe end pieces'3 and 4 are preferably constructed of framed elements consisting of the horizontal frame pieces 10 and the vertical frame pieces 11 to, or be hind-'which the backing 12 is secured, the

backing-l2 being formed of compo board' or any other light and strong material.

he coverportionof the box consistsof a box-like structure which is adapted to fit over the outsides of the end pieces and the sides, and consists of the comparativelydeep sides 13, the endsjl4, an'd the top section 15. The sides 13 and ends 14 are ofsuch depth that when the box is-folded, the lid maybe inserted over the latter to Wholly contain its parts, the lower face of the bottom or base 1 lyin flush with the free edges of the ends 14 and sides 13.

Passing through the sides 13 opposite ends thereof, are the apertures 16 which register with similar apertures 17 formed through the vertical margins of the box sides 8 and 9 and the vertical cleats or adjacent the v of the tie rods, so as to order to remove or insert frame pieces 11 of the end pieces4.' These registering apertures, when the box is set up and the lid applied, provide passageways for the reception of tie rods 18. The tie rods 18 are passedthrough socket plates 19 recessed in the side of the lid, and thence through the sockets or apertures 16 and 17 in the sides and ends respectively, and upon the opposite side of the lid are threaded into socket plates '20 recessed therein. Atthis point it should be noted that the two tie rods 18 not only look the lid inplace, but firmly and rigidly join the sides and ends tooneanother and prevent any possible collapsing of the box. The tie rods 18 areprovided with rings 21 which pivotally engage theheads fall against the side of the box when not in use, but provide a means for readily manipulating the rods in them. Thesocket platesnQO are provided upon opposite-sides of their threaded openingswiththe lugs 22,

which are a'perturec-to.correspondwith; a

' ing packed, I

similar opening formed in the threadediend' of each of the tie rods, so thatv a sealing wire may be passed therethrough, thereby pre venting unauthorized handling of'the'c'ontents of the box. hold the end pieces 3 and and 9 in set-up position while the box is beproidde the hooks or similar fastening devices upon theupper edges of the sides and ends so asvto hook across the adjacent corners thereof, these devices inrparting sufficient rigidity to the box to hold it until the lid can be applied. Preferably the socket plates 19 and 20 arecorner lit-i tings which overlie the ends, edges of the latter. I I

When the box, is folded, and thelbody thereof is housed withinthe lid, apertures 25 in the marginal cleatsof the bottom register with apertures 26 in the edgesof the. sides;

of the lid, so that the tie rods 18 whichwere removed before the box was collapsed,

may be inserted therethroughxin order tolock the collapsedbox within the lid. Bearing plates 27 recessedwithinthe outer, face of one side of the lid provide seats 'for'the heads of the tie rods, and the-plates28 upon the opposite side have threaded. apertures Within which the threaded ends of the tie rods may be inserted, Lugs 29 acentthe threaded apertures of the plates 28 provide Copies of this patent may be obtained=fonfive cents each,

In orderto temporarilyt'and the sides 8- sidcs and free for the protection of the projecting threaded ends of the tie rods.

From the foregoing description, it is evident" that I have provided a very compact and serviceable shipping crate which is'not only capable of withstanding the wear and tear of railroad shipment when loaded or packed, but may also be returned as empties without the usual danger to noncollapsibleempty cases or to collapsible receptacles which are not properly secured. The device is capable, furthermore, of economical manufacture, since itsrequirements for fittings is reduced to a minimum, the same elements which lock the device in setup position and secure the lid to the box also serving. to secure the device in packed or collapsed condition.

What 10131111 as my invention is 1'.v A folding crate comprising in combination, a basehaving bottom cleats around its margin ends foldable upon the-base, to lie-withinthe marginal'limits of the latter,

sides foldable fiat on theends, av lidhaving side membersof sufiicient depth. to wholly receivethc folded box, and tie rods passed through thelidand th'egcleats of the base so as to pass across the base'below its inner surface to securethe crate in: folded condition,

said sides, ends and the'lid bein'galso constructed to receivethe tie-rods when thebox is set up to lockit in extended condition.

2. A folding crate comprising in combination, a base having marginal cleats, sides and ends foldable upon the base, to lie-within the marginal limits of thelatter, said sides,

ends andbase also havingmarginalcleats, a

lid having side-members of sufficient depthto wholly'receive the folded box, andtie rods passedthrough the lidan'd throughthe bottom cleats so as to pass belowtheyinner; surface-of-the base, to securethe parts when in folded-condition, and theicleats ofthesides and ends having apertures; to receive the tie MICHAEL J; DA CYZ Witnesses S. R. BRATTAN, EDWARD R. WITMANI.

by addressing the Commissioner-of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

